Method of Disintegrating Rock by Melting and by Synergism of Water Streams

ABSTRACT

Method of disintegrating rock by melting and by synergism of water streams, comprising action of the heat flow source on the rock, action of the water stream source on the melted rock so that: the heat or energy flow source acts on the rock at least until its local phase transition into the melt occurs, at least one water stream is directed into the locally created melt, physical explosion occurs in the melt, on which the water stream acts.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a method of disintegrating rock by synergism of melting and water streams and it is designed to be used especially in the drilling process, particularly of hard rocks.

BACKGROUND ART

The interaction of natural melt (magma or lava) in nature is known for thousands of years as one of the most monumental natural phenomenon—volcanic eruption accompanied by huge outpouring of hot ash.

This natural phenomenon, called hydro-magmatic explosion, has been a subject of scientific study, of explanation of its physical background, but also a subject of intensive creation of hypotheses, theories, models, mathematical descriptions and comprehensive theoretical systems, in the last half century.

But these works were aimed at obtaining more knowledge about physical process of interaction of water and melt, so that model of natural phenomenon could be specified. Several comprehensive works explaining and mathematically describing beginning and course of explosion or detonation, were created.

Experimental works of volcanologists, by which the rock melt is injected into larger volume of water or water stream is injected into melt, are described in literature.

All mechanisms of hydro-magmatic explosion, morphology of particles being formed, and conditions under which these processes occur, are described in detail in the mentioned literature. This professional literature also shows, that ongoing processes can be utilised for the benefit of drilling technique utilizing the interaction of plasma/rock/water.

In these publications, the authors describe the mechanisms of explosive interaction of water with melted rock.

Wohletz K H, 1986, Explosive magma-water interactions: Thermodynamics, explosion mechanisms, and field studies, Bulletin of Volcanology 48, 245-264.

Wohletz K H and Zimanowski B, Physics of phreatomagmatism, part I: explosion physics, Terra Nostra 2000/6, 515-523.

Zimanowski B and Wohletz K. H., Physics of phreatomagmatism, part II: eruption physics, Terra Nostra 2000/6, 535-544.

Wohletz, K. H., Zimanowski, B., and Buttner, R. Alamos National Laboratory Report LA-UR-08-0921, 41 pp.

The mentioned publications contain also more detailed description of morphology of forming particles.

Sheridan, M. F.; Wohletz, K. H. Hydrovolcanism: Basic Considerations and Review, Jour. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., vol. 17, 1983

Wohletz, K. H., Mechanisms of hydrovolcanic pyroclast formation: grain-size, scanning electron microscopy, and experimental studies, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., September 1983.

Mechanism of formation of fine ash in volcanic explosions: Zimanowski, B.; Wohletz, K.; Buttner, R.: The Volcanic Ash Problem, Jour. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., Vol. 122, 2003

Experiments on phreatomagmatic explosions: S Kurszlaukis, R Buttner, B Zimanowski, V Lorenz: On the first experimental phreatomagmatic explosion of a kimberlite melt, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research Volume 80, Issues 3-4, February 1998, Pages 323-326.

Research of basic physical aspects of phreatomagmatic explosions:: Bernd Zimanowski, Georg Fröhlich, Volker Lorenz, Quantitative experiments on phreatomagmatic explosions, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, Volume 48, Issues 3-4, December 1991, Pages 341-358

Research of explosions by interaction of water with silicate melts: Bernd Zimanowski, Georg Fröhlich, Volker Lorenz, Experiments on steam explosion by interaction of water with silicate melts, Nuclear Engineering and Design, Volume 155, Issues 1-2, 2 Apr. 1995, Pages 335-343.

Phreatomagmatic explosions of rhyolitic magma: A. Austin-Erickson, R. Büttner, P. Dellino, M. H. Ort, B. Zimanowski, Phreatomagmatic explosions of rhyolitic magma: Experimental and field evidence, JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 113, B11201, 12 PP., 2008.

Research of the surface features of ash grains as an indicator of dynamic interaction of liquid water and magma: Ralf Büttner, Pierfrancesco Dellino & Bernd Zimanowski, Identifying magma—water interaction from the surface features of ash particles, Nature 401, 688-690 (14 Oct. 1999)|doi:10.1038/44364; Received 6 May 1999; Accepted 23 Aug. 1999.

Phenomenological model of interaction of water with melt: Ralf Büttner and Bernd Zimanowski, Physics of thermohydraulic explosions, Phys. Rev. E 57, 5726-5729 (1998).

The utilisation of this phenomenon in technical app nor patent literature. No application for disintegrating rock and for the purposes or arming in technical or geological formations is known. Patents related to the given field: U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,434, U.S. Pat. No. 5,667,147, U.S. Pat. No. 6,660,223, U.S. Pat. No. 2,533,633, U.S. Pat. No. 3,594,142, U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,647, U.S. Pat. No. 6,349,548, U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,899 are related to interaction of melt and water for production of fine granules or powders.

The aim of the present invention is to increase the efficiency of drilling process considerably, particularly of hard rocks, as process of synergism of thermal processes and water action.

Nature of Technical Solution The aim of the present invention is utilization of thermal processes with synergism of water and with utilization of conversion of thermal energy into kinetic energy of particles of disintegrated rock in the drilling process, particularly of hard rocks, in order to increase efficiency of drilling process.

Nature of method of disintegrating rock by melting and by synergism of water streams according to the present invention consists in that:

-   -   the heat or energy flow source acts on the rock at least until         its local phase transition into the melt occurs,     -   at least one water stream is directed into the locally created         melt,     -   physical explosion occurs in the melt, on which the water stream         acts.

It is preferable if the water stream is interrupted in dependence on heat balance of heating process and in the time of realization of rock heating process by the energy flow.

Physical explosion, fragmentation process and conversion of heat energy into kinetic energy of fragmented particles movement occurs in the rock melt. The fragmented particles, that have been formed, create the eccentric flow of the particles, which undergo the reverse phase transition into the solid phase.

The eccentric flow of particles empties the action area of the heat flow, and the disintegrated rock by melting and by synergism of the water streams and prepares it for new action of the heat flow.

The water streams are directed into one direction or they are directed parallely with the direction of the heat flow action or they are directed tangentially around the area of the heat flow action or they are directed eccentrically from the area of the heat flow action, so that they disintegrate the rock by synergism of the water streams and local acting of heat flow, until phase transition of it into the melt occurs.

Heat flow and synergism of at least one water stream abscissa (linearly).

The action of the water streams, which act on the created melt along one side or from all sides of the created melt, is being interrupted in dependence on heat balance of heating process causing melting of the rock.

By repeating of process of disintegrating the rock by melting, the sphere of action extends into the depth of the rock.

By repeating of process of disintegrating the rock by melting successive on different rock area, the sphere of action extends sideways next to the original area.

Main advantage of solution according to the present invention is increasing the efficiency of drilling processes, particularly of hard rocks.

EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows the device consisting of the heat flow source 1, which produces the thermal plasma flow 2. The plasma flow acts on the rock 3 and on its surface melts the rock into the melt 4. After some time, the water stream 6 is injected into the melt 4 by nozzle 5.

FIG. 2 shows a state after injecting water stream 6 into the melt 4, where the explosive flow of the fragmented particles of melt 7 is formed, and the particles convert into the solid phase again and fly away from the area of interaction of the water stream 6 and the melt 4. The stream of particles of melt 7 has kinetic energy from the heat energy supplied to the melt 4. 

1. Method of disintegrating rock by melting and by synergism of water streams, comprising action of the heat flow source on the rock, action of the water stream source on the melted rock, characterized in that: the heat or energy flow source acts on the rock at least until its local phase transition into the melt occurs, at least one water stream is directed into the locally created melt, physical explosion occurs in the melt, on which the water stream acts.
 2. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that the water stream is interrupted in dependence on heat balance of heating process and in the time of realization of rock heating process by the energy flow.
 3. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that physical explosion, fragmentation process and conversion of heat energy into kinetic energy of fragmented particles movement occurs in the rock melt.
 4. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that fragmented particles create the eccentric flow of the particles, which undergo the reverse phase transition into the solid phase.
 5. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that the eccentric flow of particles empties the heat flow area and prepares it for new action of the heat flow.
 6. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that the water streams are directed into one direction.
 7. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that the water streams are directed parallely with the direction of the heat flow action.
 8. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that the water streams are directed tangentially around the area of the heat flow action.
 9. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that the water streams are directed eccentrically from the area of the heat flow action.
 10. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat flow acts on the rock along the abscissa (linearly).
 11. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that the water streams act on the melt along one side or from all sides in the direct of the created melt.
 12. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that by repeating of process, the sphere of action extends into the depth of the rock.
 13. Method of disintegrating rock according to claim 1, characterized in that by repeating of process successive on different rock area, the sphere of action extends sideways next to the original area. 